Brassiere construction



March 7, 1961 H. STEINER 2,973,764

BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 15, 1958 INVENTOR.

Harry Steiner ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,973,764 BRASSIERE CONSTRUCTION Harry Steiner, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Corde De Parie Corset Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporafiou Filed Oct. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 767,313 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-476) This invention relates to the construction of brassieres and analogous garments and, more particularly, to a novel brassiere construction including a normally concealed flexible or stretchable panel permitting a cup reinforcing ribbon tape or wire to be placed on the outer surface of the garment.

In accordance with the present invention, a brassiere construction is provided embodying improved constructional features by virtue of which proper bust support is assured with provision for vertical accommodation relative to the body band and transverse stretch in the body band beneath the cups. This latter feature allows proper diaphragm control and eliminates midriif bulge.

These features are achieved by panels of vertically stretchable material secured to the lower edges of the cups and having panel lower edges secured to the body band beneath the upper edge thereof. The upper edge of the body band maythus vertically move relative to the cups without contact with the body, and this upper edge has a covered ribbon, tape, or wire reinforcement conforming to the lower edges of the cups. This movable reinforcement, in its vertical movement, rides on the underlying stretchable panel, whereby it is kept out of contact with the body.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following descriptions of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation view of a brassiere embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a 'rear elevation view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a partial front elevation view of a modified form of brassiere embodying the invention.

The brassiere illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 comprises a body band, generally indicated at 10, arranged to embrace the body and having shoulder straps 11 and cooperable fastener means 12', such as hooks and eyes, at its ends to detachably and adjustably interconnect these ends at the back of the body.

Band includes shaped breast pockets orcups 15 each having an inner layer of soft cushioning material Beneath cups 16 covered by an outer layer 17 of lace. 15 are panels 13 joined along their inner vertical edges by suitable stitching along a seam 14 to form a pocket for a stay 19. 1

The upper edges of panels 13 are curved to conform to the lower edges of cups 15 and hemmed over, as at 18, to receive a reinforcing ribbon or wire 20. In a manner to be explained, panels 13 and reinforcements 20 are movable vertically relative to cups 15.

The outer vertical edges of panels 13 are stitched, as at 21, to the inner vertical edges of outer panels 22 to form pockets for stays 23. Panels 22 are woven of elastic material stretchable laterally of the body to provide a snug fit permitting proper diaphragm movement.

elastic reinforcing tapes 26 are stitched along the upper edge of band 10 on each side of cups 15.

In accordance with the invention, the panels 13 are stitched to cups 15 only along the substantially vertical edges of the cups, as indicated at 27, 27, and are free of the substantially horizontal edges of the cups, being attached thereto only through the vertically stretchable panels 25. Consequently, while the reinforced upper edges of panels 13 are held against cups 15 when panels 25 are contracted, these edges may move away from the cups due to stretching of panels 25. This permits proper diaphragm control without restraint on the cups 15, and the reinforced edges of panels 13 are kept out of contact with the body, during vertical movement of such edges, by the underlying panels 25.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in half elevation in Fig. 5, the same reference numerals primed have been used to indicate identical, like, and corresponding parts. In this embodiment, the constructional features of the invention are incorporated in a so-called long line brassiere.

Referring to Fig. 5, the outer lace panels 13' are again stitched only to the substantially vertical edges of cups 15 as indicated at 27'. The lower outer corners of panels 13' are cut away to receive inserts 28 of elastic material stretchable horizontally. Elastic panels 22' are divided into two sections interconnected by a non-elastic intermediate panel 30. The vertical seams connecting the several panels form pockets for stays'23'.

Underlying elastic panels 25' have V-shaped lower edges stitched to panels 13' intermediate the height of the latter as indicated at 31. These vertically stretchable panels permit movement of panels 13, or at least the central portions of the reinforced upper edges there of, relative to cups 15' while riding on underlying panels 25'.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

In a brassiere or the like, a body band having breast pockets of substantially non-stretchable material; a panel of substantially non-stretchable material below each of said pockets and each connected to the associated pocket only along the substantially vertical edges thereof and free from the substantially horizontal edge of the associated pocket; and an insert of vertically stretchable material underlying each panel and each connected to the periphery of the associated pocket throughout substantially the entire length of the periphery thereof, the lower edge of each insert being connected to the associated panel beneath the upper edge of the latter; Whereby the upper portion of each panel is movable vertically relative to the associated pocket over the associated underlying insert; the upper edge of each panel being curved to substantially conform to the shape of the associated pocket and having a reinforcing element secured therealong, the underlying insert protecting the body from rubbing on the upper portion of each panel thereover during stretching of the insert responsive to diaphragm action.

Underlying panels 13, there are elastic fabric panels 25 secured to the peripheries of cups 15. Panels 25 are woven so as to be stretchable in a vertical direction. The lower edges of panels 25 are stitched to the lower edges of panels 13 and to an elastic reinforcing tape 24 extending along the lower edge of band 10. Similar References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

